Denominational Divides

Modesty

Definition- Origin- Latin 1555-56 “modestus” which means restrained.

Modesty (Modest) is having or showing a moderate or humble estimate of one’s merits, importance, etc. free from vanity, egotism, boastfulness, or great pretensions. Free from showy extravagance.

Let’s make this historical fact clear. Standards for what is modest clothing wise and what isn’t has almost always been set by Men. Throughout history it was left to Kings, Priests, Emperors, and Men of high esteem to dictate what a women should and shouldn’t wear. Modesty in society (both ancient times and current) was decided on not just what you didn’t show but also how MAN wanted you to look to them appeal wise. (Foot binding in ancient China, Corsets in Empirical France, Burkas and Hijabs in the Middle East) These restrictions were placed because of PERSONAL interpretations of what we as Men thought a woman should look like.

The Biblical View of Modesty is seen in two ways. I’m going to use the same writer, 2 different occassions but the same topic of Modesty.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 12

12 For just as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body—so also is Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all given one Spirit to drink. 14 Indeed, the body is not one part but many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I’m not a hand, I don’t belong to the body,” it is not for that reason any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I’m not an eye, I don’t belong to the body,” it is not for that reason any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But as it is, God has arranged each one of the parts in the body just as he wanted. 19 And if they were all the same part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” Or again, the head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that are weaker are indispensable. 23 And those parts of the body that we consider less honorable, we clothe these with greater honor, and our unrespectable parts are treated with greater respect, 24 which our respectable parts do not need.

In this passage of Scripture Paul was dealing with the Body of Christ and its correlation to the Human body. The focus should be on verses 22-24. We clothe our unrespectable parts ( otherwise known as private areas) which is considered Globally the correct thing to do. He then turns around and says this in his Pastoral Letter to Timothy

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 2

9 Also, the women are to dress themselves in modest clothing, with decency and good sense, not with elaborate hairstyles, gold, pearls, or expensive apparel, 10 but with good works, as is proper for women who profess to worship God

The focus isn’t necessarily in verse 10. It is 11 which is meant to stress to the women believers to be less concerned with their apparel and focus on pursuing good works. It was never the WHAT is was always the WHY.

Also, the women are to dress themselves in modest clothing, with decency and good sense, not with elaborate hairstyles, gold, pearls, or expensive apparel, 10 but with good works, as is proper for women who profess to worship God

Jewelry and Makeup

Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

The

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 3

3 Don’t let your beauty consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and wearing gold jewelry or fine clothes, 4 but rather what is inside the heart,bh—the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

This verse is consistently used to denounce not only the braiding of hair but also the wearing of jewelry. This is not only a wrong interpretation but also a lack of understanding of the culture of those times. Jewelry was a part of ancient culture as far back as Abraham and Moses. It was never spoken against concerning the church as a sin or a problem. The only concern was simply to not make those things a source of your beauty. Let your beauty come from within.

Now to deal with makeup. Jezebel always comes to mind. The most prominent verse is this

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 4

30 And you, devastated one, what are you doing

that you dress yourself in scarlet,

that you adorn yourself with gold jewelry,

that you enhance your eyes with makeup?

You beautify yourself for nothing.

Your lovers reject you;

they intend to take your life.

is almost always taken wildly out of context. The person in question is actually Jerusalem and the lovers in question are their allies who are going to see through their adornment and facade and kill them. NOTHING TO DO WITH A WOMAN. The imagery here is just that. IMAGERY

Holiness

Holiness is the CHIEF attribute of God firstly. It is THE quality of God. It denotes his transcendent apartness from the rest of his creation. It is his uniqueness and total purity. In the OT, the primary meaning of the word holy was “to cut” or “to separate”. So fundamentally holiness to us would mean a cutting off or a separation from that which is unclean and full consecration to what is pure. It’s application to us is that whatever we are considering holy must have come in contact with the presence of God “The Holy One” and is now belonging to him exclusively which makes it morally and it some cases ceremonially pure.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 1

13 Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be sober-minded and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. 15 But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; 16 for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.,ap

Holiness isn’t just about what you can’t do, say, or wear. It’s about mirroring the very image of God and his attributes. Understanding that Holiness isn’t rules for Man but legitimately a MIRROR for Humanity to see what God desires and who he is will make it easy to abstain from things that don’t mirror his character.

With this in mind it doesn’t make sense imposing restrictions before understanding the Character of the Most Holy One. Holiness is a character consecration issue. Not external acts of piety. Clothing restrictions were only given to Levitical Priests. EVEN then they were still required by God to be HOLY as he is HOLY ()

7 Consecrate yourselves and be holy, for I am the Lord your God.

Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

Salvation